Process of producing potash.



WILLIAM HATCH, or mamas- 5mm camronma,

ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE MASON AND mon'anp nrasou,l'or san PEDRO, CALIFORNIA.

raoonssor raonucmo rorasn.

No Drawing.

To a] l whom it may concern Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM HATCH, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, residing at Terminal Island, in'the count of Los An eles and State of California, ave inventetf new and useful Improvements in Processes of Producing Potash, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of makin or producing potash.

The object of the invention is to a process for ra idly and economica y producing potash rom practically inexhaustible sources of potash.

In carrying my invention into practice, I take selected sand, preferably sea sand and grind it to a fine owder. I then mix this sand with a smal amount of potash lye; e. g. the leachings from the previous operation; to which a small amount of nitric acid is added, in suitable proportions to form a stiff paste or mortar, and mix this with seaweed, which is rich in potash, and which is abundant on the Pacific coast. The mixture is then in this mushy state spread out in long wide shallow troughs an exposed to the air and sunlight, being turned or spread out anew each day until it is quite or nearly dr and is allowed to ferment for a con- Slt erable time, for example several weeks.

\Vhen sand is used which has not been covered b the tide, or which does not contain a sull icient amount of sodium ohlorid. I add to the solution with which the sand is to be mixed, a suitable amount of common salt. I have found that sea sand yields a larger proportion of potash than other sands, but by adding salt to the latter in about. the proportion present in sea sand substantially the same result may be secured as though sea sand were used. In practice, I preferably employ one part of lye and one part of sea salt to ninety-four parts of sand, but may combine with the sand a eater proportion of lye, as in the pro rtlon of two, three or four to five arts of ye to each ninety-four parts of san in order to accelcrate the process. In some cases I beat the sand for example to a red heat or lower, to obtain better and quicker results.

The presence of the small amount of salt, and the ash leachings to which a small amount of nitric acid has been added, greatly accelerates the fermentation and rovide Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 18, 1812. Serial No. 709,757.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

consequently "reatly shortens the time necessary for oEt-aining the potash. Small amounts of salt (sodium chlorid) and potassium nitrate serve as nutrients to the fermentative organisms.

In the process of fermentation of the seaweed and under the oxidizing action of the air, the same is disintegrated and the mass blossoms, first showing feathery forms which gradually take the shape of cauliflower heads or sections thereof, and eventuall form into lumps of various sizes technically called blooms. Into these lum )s more or less of the disintegrated sand is al)- sorbed or merged, the lumps being fully 90% soluble in water.- The crude potash salts thus produced are ground or pulverized and packed for su sequent use and may be used as a fertilizer or may be refined or treated in any of the usual ways for use as potash salts in a purified condition or for the production of other potassium salts.

In preparingthe acid-lye solution, I pref erably leach a suitable amount of wood ashes with sea-water. As soon as it is strong enough I add to the lye suitable vegetable fermentative matter, such as about 10% of ground seaweed or the juices or extracts therefrom and from 1% to 5% of ordinary commercial nitric acid. This acid will act on the alkalis (sodium and potassium carbonate), and convert them into nitrates. The solution will then usually be alkaline,-and should not in any case be more than faintly acid. Too much acid would retard or prevent the fermentation, by destroying the bacteria. Under some conditions I may use sawdust in addition to the seaweed or its juices, with greater elliciency. The lye may also be made from the ashes of seaweeds or the refuse from the seaweed from which the juices are extracted, or the water extract of the blooms of a previous operation may be used.

The fermentative action may be increased in roducing the )otash in the ground or u be of sand or w erevcr excessive moisture exists by adding to the mass an additional amount of vegetable matter, such as described. If desired, the sawdust mav he first placed in the lye and the ground seaweed or its 'uices :1 (led after the mass has been expose to air and sunlight a certain time.

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The term seaweed in the appended claims includes the same as solid or crushed seaweed, or the juices of the same, expressed by pressure or otherwise.

What I claim is:-

1. The process of producing (potashsalts, which comprises mixing seawee with finely divided silicious material and a liquidjcontainin some salt of potash, and then allowiu tie mass to ferment and produce b ooms or nodules, and separating these blooms from the-remaining material.

2. The process of producing otash salts, which comprises mixing seaweed with finely divided silicious mater al and a mixture of leuchiur s of wood ashes and nitric acid, and then allowing the mass to ferment and pro- "diyided sil-icious t duce blooms or nodules, and separating these blooms from the remaining materia 3. The process of producing otash salts, which com rises mixing seawe with finely material and a liquid consome salt of potash, and then allowe mass to ferment and produce in booms or nodules, and separating these blooms from the remaining material, and

thereafter purifying the potash salts.

In testimon whereof I aiiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

WILLIAM HATCH.

Witnesses:

GEORGE Mnsox,

RICHARD MASON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

